Congress

Posted: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 9:04 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Congress

So good-bye earmarks, hello Congressman as lobbyists? The Los Angeles Times, via FOIA requests, obtained letters members of Congress wrote specific agencies that essentially asked for earmark-like spending requests. "Federal agencies must fund earmarks lawmakers insert into bills. With the earmarks [technically] eliminated, the agencies were free this year to set their own spending priorities. So, lawmakers touted their own requests to influence those decisions."

Is sex and politics back? The L.A. press corps was in full feeding-frenzy mode with L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at his first news conference since admitting his affair with a local TV reporter. And now there's this: Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) apologized yesterday for his phone number appearing on the D.C. Madam’s phone list. "This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible," Vitter, 46, said in a statement, which his spokesman, Joel DiGrado, confirmed to the Associated Press. "Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling," Vitter continued. "Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there -- with God and them. But I certainly offer my deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way."

The Politico digs up this old quote from Vitter’s wife. “In 2000, Vitter was included in a Newhouse News Service story about the strain of congressional careers on families. His wife, Wendy, was asked by the Newhouse reporter: If her husband were as unfaithful as Livingston or former President Bill Clinton, would she be as forgiving as Hillary Rodham Clinton? ‘I’m a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary,’ Wendy Vitter told Newhouse News. ‘If he does something like that, I’m walking away with one thing, and it’s not alimony, trust me.’”

And the New York Daily News notes that Vitter is the southern regional chair of Giuliani's campaign.

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Comments

Remember how the Republicans kept repeating that character matters, back during Clinton's impeachment hearings? It seems the phrase should be suffixed with, "...unless you're a Republican."
There's an article over on finance.yahoo.com today about how to pick a good business partner. A (paraphrased) quote: "Never have a business partner who's unfaithful to their wife."

David, Tallahassee FL (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 9:25 AM)

As far as earmarks go, it's a case of "Same Sh**, different Congress.
As far as Vitter is concerned, he'll go into rehab, sob in some Soouthern church, and his little wifey won't castrate him, as the voters no doubt will. Isn't how it always goes for Republicans caught with their pants down?

Jim, Washington, D.C. (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 10:01 AM)

When will the democrats grow some balls and do the job they were elected to do.

Their must be some that aren’t afraid of king george.

So far he has kicked their ass and they have let the voters down.

Its time to do what they were voted in to do.

RC in Denver (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 10:21 AM)

I hope she was as hot as the gal who was fooling around with the Mayor of Los Angeles. I guess that is the difference in political bedrooms between liberals and conservatives. Conservatives use escort services, liberals just reach out and touch you. For all the times Bill got caught with a woman, you would think that Hillary would have had his manhood stuffed and mounted over her fireplace in her senate office. I wonder if Wendy has the newest set of Rachel ray steak knives? Just remember, the phone number is the only thing linking him to the service, but until a woman steps forward and talks about her night with David Vitter, it will be the "where there is smoke, there is fire"scenario.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 10:28 AM)

Senator Vitter a song for you.

"Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
When tears come down like falling rain
Your cheatin' heart will pine some day
And crave the love you threw away"

"Your Cheatin' Heart"- Hank Williams

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 10:34 AM)

...Or, as the racist add in TN against Ford did, let's get a half-dressed hooker on an ad saying "Call me, Vitter!" and then blink.

Jim, Washington, D.C. (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 10:39 AM)

Theater of the Absurd:
"Family Values" Republican Senator admits to "Running the Whores" in DC.
In Texas a Democratic law maker shoots robber with licensed pistol.
Much for sterotypes!!

OutWest (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 10:57 AM)

What the republicans did to Ford was beyond most of our imagination.But it worked.Their smear machines are brilliant and have fooled most of the people,most of the time.Vitter will be praised for his honesty and redemption from God.NOW VOTE FOR ME will be his cry.

HMT (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 11:04 AM)

"Call Me"--Blondie

Dorothy (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 11:11 AM)

I forgot to mention that in the ad about Vitter, the half-dressed hooker should be black. Then it would truly be as low as the Ford ad.
"Call me, Vitter!" Blink
As for Mrs. Vitter, she evidently didn't take her own advice, since he doesn't seem to be a soprano (in the physical sense, anyway) yet.

Jim, Washington, D.C. (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 12:43 PM)

Vitter already apologized for his indiscretion; seemed his statement was an admission of guilt. For all the high moral gorund the repugs have taken most of the past 12 years, seems they can talk the talk, but not walk the walk.

Mark Y; Westlake Village, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 1:08 PM)

I am no fan of David Vitter but my problkem is not with his behavior but why what he did is such a big deal. So he went to a prostitute; big deal. Prostitution is the oldest preofession in the world and in the nations where it is legal, they don't have nearly the problems with sex crimes and human slavery as we do here. Besides, politicians and prostitutes have a lot in common. Vitter probably just thought he was owed some professional courtesy.

Robert Catalano, Salem, OR (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 4:46 PM)

the problem is the repubs set themselves up as holy roller, holier than thou, can do no wrong Christians. Then when they fall, they fall real far and real fast!I say Ha Ha, just what they get.

bb (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 5:46 PM)

"Where The Boys Are"-Connie Francis

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Tuesday, July 10, 2007 6:11 PM)

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